Protect

noun

1. A person or a body of persons on sentinel duty

   "Guards were posted around the camp."

2. Troops attached to the person of the sovereign
3. Conductor
4. A defensive state or attitude

   "asked him out when his guard was down"

5. A defensive position (as in boxing)
6. The act or duty of protecting or defending
7. The state of being protected protection
8. A protective or safety device
9. Precaution
10. A position or player next to the center in a football line
11. A player stationed in the backcourt in basketball

verb

1. To protect an edge of with an ornamental border
2. To protect from danger especially by watchful attention make secure

   "police guarding our cities"

3. To stand at the entrance of as if on guard or as a barrier
4. To tend to carefully preserve, protect

   "guarded their privacy"

5. Escort
6. To watch over so as to prevent escape, disclosure, or indiscretion

   "guarded the prisoners."

7. To attempt to prevent (an opponent) from playing effectively or scoring
8. To watch by way of caution or defense stand guard

   "guard against mistakes"

noun

1. One of the two crescent-shaped epidermal cells that border and open and close a plant stoma

noun

1. One of the usually long coarse hairs forming a protective coating over the undercoat of a mammal

noun phrase

1. Honor guard

phrasal verb

1. To try to keep (something) from happening

   "Clean the wound to guard against infection."

noun

1. A dog that is trained to protect a place a watchdog

noun

1. A part of a train that is attached at the back end and is used by people who work on the train caboose

noun

1. A shallow ditch with rails or bars laid across that are spread far enough apart to prevent livestock from crossing but not people or vehicles

noun

1. A military or naval force employed in guarding a coast or responsible for the safety, order, and operation of maritime traffic in neighboring waters
2. Coastguardsman